Viewing entries tagged
engagement photography

A Picture-Perfect Proposal: Daniel and Elizabeth's Sunny Afternoon at Twin Lakes Beach, Santa Cruz, CA

A Picture-Perfect Proposal: Daniel and Elizabeth's Sunny Afternoon at Twin Lakes Beach, Santa Cruz, CA

In the golden embrace of a sunny afternoon at the picturesque Twin Lakes Beach in Santa Cruz, CA, a moment unfolded that was nothing short of a fairytale. It was here, with the iconic Walton Lighthouse standing majestically in the background, that Daniel chose to embark on a lifelong journey of love and commitment with Elizabeth, a momentous occasion that I had the privilege of capturing through my lens.

Daniel and Elizabeth, accompanied by their adorable black dog adorned with a red handkerchief, brought a delightful touch of familial warmth to the shoot. Their furry companion seemed to sense the love in the air, adding a playful and heartwarming element to the already blissful occasion. Each frame captured not just two people in love but a small, happy family ready to face the world together.

As the gentle waves kissed the shores and the lighthouse stood as a beacon of hope and steadfastness, Daniel knelt, and with a proposal, promised forever to Elizabeth. Her joyous acceptance was met with cheers from bystanders, as seagulls soared above, almost as if celebrating this union with their harmonious cries. It was a tableau of love, pure and heartfelt, framed perfectly by the natural beauty of Santa Cruz.

Amidst smiles, laughter, and the sparkling reflection of the sun on the gentle waves, this session became more than a proposal shoot; it transformed into a joyous celebration of love, a testimony to the beautiful journey that Daniel and Elizabeth are embarking upon, together.

San Francisco Engagement Session @ Palace of Fine Arts and Baker Beach

San Francisco Engagement Session @ Palace of Fine Arts and Baker Beach

This two-location destination is a popular choice for my Indian couples wanting to capture a slice of San Francisco beauty during their engagement shoot. The Palace of Fine arts has towering masses of architectural brilliance along with a pond, trees, water features and expansive grass lawns. It’s a popular tourist spot, so making a shoot feel like nobody else is around can be a real challenge! Next up we went to Baker Beach, where you’re practically guaranteed to see amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance, and old naked dudes even closer. Yep, it’s a nudist beach so there’s that to contend with. But these two braves the weirdness of this town and we got some stellar romantic photos at both locations. Enjoy.

Panther Beach - Santa Cruz Engagement Session

Panther Beach - Santa Cruz Engagement Session

Panther Beach is one of the more popular engagement photography destinations in the Santa Cruz area, mostly because it offers stunning natural features and is fairly private, as it’s challenging to access. But with great beauty, comes another natural risk – big waves! This is the only beach I or my couples have fairly routinely gotten wet at – usually by accident :) Luckily I was able to get a bunch of great photos before the risky shot at the end. A sneaker wave pummeled the rock these two were standing on and utterly drenched them. I got the shot (of course), because that would be a real bummer way to end a session if I didn’t! Luckily they were in good spirits and it wasn’t too cold (even though it’s March). Enjoy a few of my faves below:

Capitola Beach Sunset Engagement Shoot

Capitola Beach Sunset Engagement Shoot

It’s been rainy… rainy… RAINY for weeks, and it’s been a real challenge to schedule (and reschedule) around the weather since 2019 started. It had been raining on and off all day, and I knew my clients were coming from the East Bay for their engagement shoot, so I was worried they’d drive all this way for nothing. Luckily we caught a break about 45 minutes before sunset on the beach in Capitola, California. Sweet! I’m shooting with to very different cameras now, my trusty Nikon D850 and my new mirrorless Nikon Z6. They are both amazing pieces of tech, and while it’s generally more efficient to shoot two of the same camera bodies (especially when it comes to editing), I’m embracing the unique way each camera renders light and color, bringing more variety for my wedding clients. All the wide-angle shots below are with the Z6, the tighter shots with the D850. Which do you like best? Enjoy…

San Francisco Engagement – Palace of Fine Arts, Baker Beach, Embarcadero, Bay Bridge

San Francisco Engagement – Palace of Fine Arts, Baker Beach, Embarcadero, Bay Bridge

These two lovebirds are getting married next week in India, but before heading out of the country for their week-long nuptials, they wanted to capture their love for San Francisco with a substantial engagement session in the city. Not only did we visit 3 different locations, but they changed outfits at each spot as well! We started out at the always-impressive Palace of Fine Arts, exploring the architecture and pond (with 1,000 other people). Next, we hit up Baker Beach for a few obligatory Golden Gate shots, thankfully without and nudists in the background… Lastly, we met up at the Embarcadero near the Ferry Building for some fun street shots, plus some pretty amazing Bay Bridge night shots. Enjoy my faves below…